transmisson fails after tires installed

[spindlecone]

Get an explanation as to how the tires caused the problem and post it here.

 

[Rick]

I wouldn't even mention the larger tires...

 

[spindlecone]

Think it was the tranny shop that said the tires caused the problem.

 

[Rick]

Ahh...

 

[BigDakota]

I gotta agree with everyone posting here..Its NOT the tires..The transmission could be overfilled, bad rebuild or possibly wrong transmission fluid!!!!

 

[410Fortune]

So what happens when you take your truck with its new 31's off road and are driving/crawling around in 4x4 low the whole day? It's going to do this again most likely.
Then what happens when you upgrade to 33's? It going to do this again....
What happens when you want to tow a trailer? Yup you guessed it will likely do this again.

I would not accept the answer from the trans shop that the tires are the cause, no way so how. As long as the fluid level is correct and the trans is using the correct fluid there is a bigger problem with the rebuild then they are willing to let on. You paid for a rebuilt transmission and labor. If they didn't get it right this does not make you liable for their mistake. Of course this depends on the warranty you bought with it.


The people posting in this thread KNOW about these things, do not let the shop swindle you like you are some old lady....

 

[Ratm907]

i agree with you all as well, i will find out tuesday what he thinks the problem is and if he says some bullshit about the tires then i will use the opinions from here to explain to him its nothing to do with the tires.

 

[toy720]

removing the battery cables is not he same as reflasing the computer call the tranny shop
who did the rebuild and see if there capable of doing it if not check with your local ford dealer what i think is the old shift points are still there and then you add the bigger tires and that will throw off the computer sometimes the computer will relearn
its parameters and sometimes you hav eto hav eit done.

 

[Glacier991]

I am similarly doubtful that is as simple as tire size. It was rebuilt in April.... was it ok until now ? Any prior symptoms?

Overheating a tranny usually has its roots in a non-locking TCC or excess slippage, restricted cooler flow or some combination. There is also a thermostatic valve for the fluid flow to the cooler in the 4R55 and 5R55 but I am not familiar with stories of it sticking or failing enough to give competent advice.

I'd want to know line pressures etc. Other possibles...your EPC may have failed.... or your VB may have problems (causing TCC non lockup or slippage). Much as I hate to say it, the usual rebuild by a shop simply removes the VB, sets it aside, and reinstalls it. On these trannies that is a mistake.

Wish I was of more help.

Excess fluid will not be the root cause of your problems.

 

[Ratm907]

yeah the tranny was fine until now and it drives fine a short distance and ive read before of a failing VB could that be the cause?

 

[Ratm907]

First of all the tranny shop is only one guy who rebuilds it and he is a friend of the famlies and replaced the EPC and the VB and did everythihg he could he still says on MY explorer the tires are only gonna cause the tranny problems and it will run but it will have no power and eventually blow apart even tho 31s are not big explorer transmissions suck and 3 other shops agreed on this.

 

[JDraper]

We all know that the Explorer V6 auto tranny is not heavy duty enough, but it's not the 31's. If it were, any Explorer that ever tried to tow anything or carried a full load of cargo would have blown up...IT'S NOT THE TIRES!!! There are plenty of people that have run 31's and larger for well over 50k miles without any problems, me being one of them.

 

[410Fortune]

Your rebuilder is full of hooey, a properly working automatic transmission, I dont care what it's in, will not puke up fluid when you add 2" of tire diameter to a SUV.

 

[Rick]

Ask your tranny guy why the tranny failed with your stock tires on it... If it was the 31s that caused the problem ask him to explain why it needed a rebuild with nothing more than the stock tires

 

[Ratm907]

only pukes up fluid when its hot seems he did not say it was the tires that did it he just says it adds stress on the tranny so no he is not full of hooey, for explorers it isnt the best idea to do which is why kits for this vehicle are rare, but he is going to pull it and check it out and might install a shift kit and a better torque converter if needed

 

[Rick]

Kits for 1st and 2nd generation Explorers aren't rare... Trail Master, Superlift, SkyJacker, RCD, Camburg, Autofab... and more are available.

Most people don't use a store bought lift on 2nd gens because the torsion twist and add a leaf works so well for them. Gerald has been on tons of hardcore trails with his 2nd gen and nothing more than a torsion twist. I think he may have killed a tranny once, but he drives his Explorer from South Carolina to Moab and back (on 35" tires)... over and over... http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=15264




Lifts for the 3rd gen are rare not because of any tranny problems, but because the factory decided to run the rear axles through the frame making a reaonable sized lift impossible.

 

[kert0307]

If the explorer tranny can't handle 31's then why does mine have no problem on 32" TrXus MT's which are close to 40 lbs a piece, loaded with the back seats down stuff piled halfway up the windows, and pulling a 15ft enclosed trailer containing a bed, full dresser, entertainment center, lazyboy recliner, kitchen table, 5ft cedar chest, desk, and random other stuff down the interstate. I still got like 16 mpg too....i've got 75k on the ticker and counting.

 

[410Fortune]

This guy doesnt want to listen to us, his trans guy is the real pro here, at least that is what I am getting from his posts

Don't allow the wool to be pulled over your eyes. a Shift kit will INCREASE the pressures inside your trans even more.

31" tires do NOT add more stress to your drivetrain then say, hauling 4 adults would.

Maybe Ford should re-think putting 4 doors on the Explorer since the trans can't handle the extra weight?

Also your same trans is available in a Ranger and from the factory they are available with tires LARGER then 31"

 

[Ratm907]

listen if your going to be a dick then don't post yes my tranny guy knows more than you because he rebuilds them everyday for 25+ years so compared to you yes he is a pro so don't be a smartass because you can run whatever size tires no **** 31s shouldnt put that much stress on the tranny but obviously you dont have my explorer have ever driven mine so you wouldnt know, i was only trying to keep you updated on what was going on with it because i thought you might like to hear but i suppose that isnt the case, if they are such a great transmission and can handle 35s then why are they called exploders? and why did 5 other transmission shops say its a bad idea to lift one really they are not built tough enough for it..the first gens are great i used to have one it was a machine, this second gen they make one known of sus lift by the way, superlift, why only one because they switche d to IFS which is a weaker sus sytem but smoother riding so dont come on here and tell me im full of **** and so is my tranny guy because unless you rebuild transmissions for a living and have driven mine don't say im full of **** btw four adults in my explorer really dogs it down..sorry just don't be a smartass

 

[aldive]

listen if your going to be a dick then don't post yes my tranny guy knows more than you because he rebuilds them everyday for 25+ years so compared to you yes he is a pro so don't be a smartass because you can run whatever size tires no **** 31s shouldnt put that much stress on the tranny but obviously you dont have my explorer have ever driven mine so you wouldnt know **** about it, if they are such a great transmission and can handle 35s then why are they called exploders? and why did 5 other transmission shops say its a bad idea to lift one really they are not built tough enough for it..the first gens are great i used to have one it was a machine, this second gen they make one known of sus lift by the way, superlift, why only one because they switche d to IFS which is a weaker sus sytem but smoother riding so dont come on here and tell me im full of **** and so is my tranny guy because unless you rebuild transmissions for a living and have driven mine don't say im full of **** btw four adults in my explorer really dogs it down..sorry just don't be a smartass

Wow, with your attitude toward well respected members of this board, you will probably not get much help here.